The government's new bill on
strengthening cyber security includes tighter rules on database
access and stiffer penalties for violations, Cabinet Secretary
Alfredo Mantovano said on Wednesday.
"Under current legislation, for example, should the suspects in
the Perugia investigation be convicted, the penalties would no
dissuasive effect," Mantovano told ANSA after a hearing before
the Lower House Constitutional Affairs and Justice committees.
"The bill aims precisely at making the safeguards against such
behaviour more serious," he added.
Perugia prosecutors are probing 14 people including finance
police officer Pasquale Striano in relation to alleged illegal
access to the data of numerous public figures including
politicians and celebrities while he was in service in the
National Anti-mafia Prosecutor's Department.
Striano is believed to have abused the so-called 'SOS' system,
which enables officials to rummage through the information
stored on databases of individuals if the authorities receive a
report of a suspect financial operation by them.
The case has become a political issue, partly because many of
the politicians allegedly snooped on are on the political right.
It has also led to calls for the creation of a parliamentary
commission on inquiry, although on Tuesday Premier Giorgia
Meloni said the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission should be
allowed to complete its investigation first.
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